The frame rusted through and broke where the lower control arm attaches on the passenger side. This caused an immediate pull to the right and nearly caused a wreck. The car was towed to a local mechanic shop who reported the problem. Mazda is currently not taking responsibility for this even though it was a known issue and a recall was issued for this exact issue.
2011 Mazda MAZDA6 suspension problems
51 complaints (38% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 108,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 51
- of this car's complaints
- 38%
- typical mileage
- 108,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Subframe/mounting bracket2
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mazda MAZDA6 suspension problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 suspension
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Crossmember is rusted out and car is undriveable. There is a recall on the crossmember front subframe
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the contact attempted to swerve out the way of another vehicle as she suddenly lost control of the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact force to steer the vehicle to the left as the contact attempted to maintain control of the vehicle. The contact managed to pull over into a parking lot and called her husband for assistance. Despite the failure, the contact managed to drive the vehicle home despite the vehicle being extremely difficult to maneuver. The contact's husband managed to drive the vehicle to a local mechanic, who determined that the front subframe had failed due to excessive corrosion of the subframe. The mechanic then informed the contact of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V323000 (Structure, Suspension); however, the contact was informed that her vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure where they confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle remained in the mechanic's possession and had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000.
2011 Mazda6 A serious safety defect occurred on my vehicle and matches the federal safety agency Recall 19V‑323 / Mazda Recall 2818I (front cross member corrosion due to insufficient coating) despite this recall not being associated with my VIN. Front cross member cracked due to rust, causing loss of steering control, wheel misalignment, and scraping from the front wheel. This is exactly the failure described in the recall (breakage of the cross member and reduced steering control, increasing the risk of a crash). My safety and the safety of others were put at risk. Although my VIN is not currently associated with the recall, all conditions of the recall apply to my vehicle: -2011 Mazda6 within the affected production range -Defect is a manufacturing issue (insufficient paint coating) -Vehicle was registered in Missouri from 2023-2025, which is a listed state The only reason this recall was not associated with my VIN is because the vehicle was not registered in Missouri at the exact time of the 2019 recall campaign. This is an administrative gap, not a safety distinction. It should not be allowed to limit a manufacturer safety defect to specific states. Vehicles move across state lines constantly. A defect that causes loss of steering control does not stop being dangerous when a car crosses a border. Registration records alone did not reflect actual vehicle use or risk. If recalls are state-limited, manufacturers and the federal safety agency must continue tracking registration changes and associate the recall with the VIN as soon as a vehicle becomes registered in an affected state. Rust is progressive and age-related. Since this recall began in 2019 and it is now 2026, affected vehicles are more likely to experience failure, and many are now registered in different states than they were in 2019. I am requesting that the federal safety agency associate Recall 19V‑323 with my VIN, investigate the adequacy of state-limited recall tracking, and take action to prevent this known safety defect from causing additional crashes.
When I took the car into my ASE mechanic shop for a normal oil change and tire rotation, they performed a general overall car inspection. They noticed that the Driver Side Rear Subframe had rusted through completely, where the coil spring is located. The passenger side was rusted, but has not yet broke through. They stated that the subframe parts should not rust through like this. They also stated that it is dangerous to drive the car in this condition. I have not notified the manufacturer as of yet, but plan to do so. There were no warning lights, but the ride did seem to be rougher than normal. The attach photos contain 2 photos of the failed driver side rear subframe and 1 photo of the good, passenger side rear subframe.
2011 Mazda6 rear subframe rot/rust, unsafe and dangerous to drive, Same situation as the front subframe that is part of a recall.
The front and back cross members underneath my Mazda6 have completely rusted out. There are numerous complaints about Mazda's "Safety Recall 2818I Expansion" not covering the back support member and also not considering Nebraska to be a Salt Belt state despite the state, and specifically Omaha using salt to treat their roads in the winter. On [XXX], my front cross member completely failed due to rust, causing my vehicle to lose control. I've taken my car to the mechanic and they confirmed the front and back cross members are completely rusted and need replacement costing $7,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while her mother was driving at slow speeds in a parking area, there was an abnormally loud metallic sound coming from underneath the vehicle, and moments later, the vehicle became extremely difficult to maneuver. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the rear crossmember had detached from the vehicle due to excessive corrosion of the subframe. The contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V323000 (Structure, Suspension); the VIN was previously included, but was repaired in 2019. The contact stated that the recall repair was for the front passenger’s side lower control arm. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Front and rear subframe rust leading to gaping holes, outside of normal wear and tear.
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine service, the vehicle was diagnosed with rust and corrosion of the sub-frame. The contact was informed that the sub-frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V323000 (Structure, Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Questions about the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 suspension
Does the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 have suspension problems?
Owners have filed 51 complaints about the suspension of the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6, 38% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 suspension problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 108,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 suspension?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Mazda MAZDA6 have bad suspension?
The Mazda MAZDA6 model years with the most suspension complaints are 2009 (76 complaints), 2011 (51 complaints) and 2010 (43 complaints).
Other 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 problems
Body 30Airbags 28Steering 17Lights 11Electrical 8Visibility 5Brakes 4Fuel system 4Engine 3Transmission 3Wheels 2Acceleration 1Seat belts 1
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